On August 25th, 2002, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine entered a new era of dental education with the opening of the Simulation Clinic and Laboratory (Flash Player 7 required). Part of a $2.6 million renovation, the Simulation Clinic continues the SDM's vision of a seamless transition from 1st through the 4th year of clinical education.

The Simulation Clinic consists of 80 individual patient simulators; each designed to give the student the 'feel' of practicing dentistry on live patients. Each station is the student's own dental operatory, equipped with 'patient', overhead light, delivery system, and suction; also, each station comes with a port for internet access. Individual flat screen monitors broadcast information from one of two teaching stations located in the front of the clinic. From these stations, instructors can present information in multiple formats, including power point or 35mm slides, VHS, DVD, document and overhead cameras, or demonstrate procedures in 'real time' by using intra-oral cameras in the instructor simulator. A fully equipped prosthodontic laboratory is also available for students and faculty.

The Simulation Clinic is just one of many ways that the University of Pittsburgh remains at the 'cutting edge' of dental education.